This appendix discussed fundamental networking concepts that form a solid foundation for understanding the design and technology sections in the rest of this book. The following topics were explored:
An introduction to networks
A discussion of networking protocols and the OSI model, a key component of networking and the basis of modern protocol suites
LANs and WANs
Network devices, including hubs, switches, and routers
An introduction to the TCP/IP suite and a discussion of the IP, TCP, and UDP protocols
Routing, including an introduction to routing protocols
Addressing, including MAC and IP addresses
A comprehensive example, illustrating the encapsulation and decapsulation processes